So here is the deal
Each and Every Christmas Eve, at around 1030 PM Local time we attend an evening Christmas Service. Usually, this is at a large Episcopal church, but on occasion, we have attended one at a Catholic church instead.
Here, we seek out an Episcopal High Mass, and have been attending one in an older cathedral type church for many years.
Sometimes, we spend Christmas out of town, and have to find one to attend wherever we are visiting.
I am accompanied by my oldest son, who is in college, (but home of course). His suggestion was that we instead the service at the Catholic cathedral adjacent to the Episcopal church we usually attend. They are larger, more ornate, and have a great organ, but I have so far been able to gather no intel on the actual service. My main concern is that it will not offer the aesthetics that the Episcopal High Mass offers.
The best idea we have, would be something akin to attending a restaurant for the first time. Show up around 10 PM, ask to see the program. (Like walking into a restaurant and asking to see a menu before sitting down.) IF The service looks promising, the music, the musicians, the order of the Mass etc looks inspiring and worth watching, we will stay. If not, it is just a block around the corner to the other church where we are guaranteed a most beautiful event, although in a less festive and less visually pleasing building by comparison.
The only other reason I am hesitant to attend is because after decades of attending these services, which are to me, Christmas, and the HIGHLIGHT of the Christmas experience, I have found Catholic Masses to be hit or miss, and would hate to spend a Christmas Eve in some place where no one is really into what they are doing. Not to mention the number of separatist priests I have encountered over the years.
Has anyone here had similar experiences?
Each and Every Christmas Eve, at around 1030 PM Local time we attend an evening Christmas Service. Usually, this is at a large Episcopal church, but on occasion, we have attended one at a Catholic church instead.
Here, we seek out an Episcopal High Mass, and have been attending one in an older cathedral type church for many years.
Sometimes, we spend Christmas out of town, and have to find one to attend wherever we are visiting.
I am accompanied by my oldest son, who is in college, (but home of course). His suggestion was that we instead the service at the Catholic cathedral adjacent to the Episcopal church we usually attend. They are larger, more ornate, and have a great organ, but I have so far been able to gather no intel on the actual service. My main concern is that it will not offer the aesthetics that the Episcopal High Mass offers.
The best idea we have, would be something akin to attending a restaurant for the first time. Show up around 10 PM, ask to see the program. (Like walking into a restaurant and asking to see a menu before sitting down.) IF The service looks promising, the music, the musicians, the order of the Mass etc looks inspiring and worth watching, we will stay. If not, it is just a block around the corner to the other church where we are guaranteed a most beautiful event, although in a less festive and less visually pleasing building by comparison.
The only other reason I am hesitant to attend is because after decades of attending these services, which are to me, Christmas, and the HIGHLIGHT of the Christmas experience, I have found Catholic Masses to be hit or miss, and would hate to spend a Christmas Eve in some place where no one is really into what they are doing. Not to mention the number of separatist priests I have encountered over the years.
Has anyone here had similar experiences?
